Caster and camber adjustment tool

ABSTRACT

A caster and camber adjustment tool including a saddle or yoke member for contacting the upper inner arm or shaft of a wheel assembly. The saddle member is affixed to one end of an elongated rod wherein the other end of the rod includes an insertion projection which affixes the end of the rod to an automobile body. An elongated curved handle is swivelly attached to the rod in a manner that the desired camber and caster adjustment of the wheel may be performed by manually moving the handle.

United States Patent [191 Castoe Sept. 25, 1973 CASTER AND CAM-BERADJUSTMENT 2,635,668 4/1953 Redinbaugh 72/458 TOOL 2,744,427 5/1956Albert 72/458 2,674,142 4/1954 Angelo et a1. 72/458 [75] Inventor: JohnHLCaStOG, Sun1and,Ca f- 2,365,731 12/1944 Simons 72/458 [73} Assignee:Applied Power Industries, Inc.,

Muwaukee Wis Primary ExammerR1chard J. Herbst Assistant Examiner--M. .l.Keenan Filed: Jan- 19, 1972 Att0rneyRoy E. Petherbridge [21] Appl. No.:218,923

[ ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 72/458 72/479 72/704 A caster and camberadjustment tool including a saddle Y or yoke member for contacting theupper inner arm or [51] Int. Cl B213 13/08 [58] Field of Search 72/704705 458 shaft of a wheel assembly. The saddle member is af- 72/476 6fixed to one end of an elongated rod wherein the other end of the'rodincludes an insertion projection which affixes the end of the rod to anautomobile body. An [56] References Cited elongated curved handle isswivelly attached to the rod UNITED STATES PATENTS in a manner that thedesired camber and caster adjust- 2,764,2l5 9/1956 Qdams et al ment ofthe whee] may be performed manually mov- 2.518,052 8/1950 ielsen v th hd] 2,572,654 10/1951 Nielsen 721705 mg 6 an e 2,425,556 8/1947 Nielsen72/458 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures l CASTER AND CAMBER ADJUSTMENT TOOLBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to anadjustment tool and in particular, to a novel camber and casteradjustment tool.

More specifically, the invention relates to a camber and casteradjustment tool for use in vehicles to perform desired camber and casteradjustments of the wheels. The tool'includes an elongated handle memberwhich permits desired adjustment of a wheel even when access to theadjustment elements of the vehicle are relatively difficult.

During the normal operation of automobiles and the like, it is necessaryto adjust periodically the wheel of the vehicle for both camber andcaster. A caster adjustment of the wheel refers to adjusting the wheelwith respect to its forward or rearward tilt of the top of the wheelspindle. On the other hand, camber is considered to be the amount thatthe front wheels are tilted at the top. It has been found that certainautomobiles, particularly so-called compact vehicles, such as the Pintocar, are'inconvenient to adjust the camber and caster since the elementsof the wheel assembly are positioned at a relatively cramped andinaccessible location.-

The tools used in the prior art to make alignment adjustments of suchvehicles have not proven to be satisfactory since the devices must bemanipulated at a position which is inconveniently accessible to amechanic thereby making the camber and caster adjustments difficult.Moreover, the prior art tools do not achieve an effficient and rapidalignment of the wheels since they are not readily attached intooperative position on the wheel assembly and also require considerabletime in performing alignment. One serious disadvantage presented byprior art techniques is the fact that the person making the alignmentadjustment has to be in position under the car and can not exert asufficient leverage on the inner arm of the wheel assembly to effectadjustment. In addition, the necessity that the mechanic be under thecar makes it inconvenient to observe the conventional gauge utilized inindicating the caster and camber of a wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this inventionto improve the adjustment of a wheel assembly of a vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to improve the tool utilized ineffecting caster and camber adjustment of a wheel of a vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to reduce the cost and complexityof a tool utilized in making camber and caster adjustments.

Still another object of this invention is to perform camber .and casteradjustment on a vehicle from a position which is readily accessible by amechanic.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with the presentinvention wherein there is provided a camber and caster adjustment toolhaving a saddle or yoke member for contacting the upper inner shaft orarm of a wheel assembly of a vehicle and an elongated handle whichtransmits leverage to the saddle or yoke member in a manner that theupper inner arm of the wheel assembly moves to make the appropriateadjustmentsof the wheel. The elongated handle is swivelly amounted tothe tool so that when the tool is positioned adjacent either the frontor rear of the front wheel parts broken away taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 ofv or arm 4 to effect camber and caster adjustment of the vhousing, the handle can be moved to avoid any obstructions caused by thewheel itself and the like. The handle extends from the tool to anaccessible position where the mechanic merely pulls the handle in amanner to effect desired movement of the shaft. The saddle member ismounted on an elongated rod wherein the other end of the rod is adaptedto be inserted and retained in a hole which is provided on the crossmember of a conventional vehicle.

The novel tool of the invention permits the user to make caster andcamber adjustments from a position adjacent the side of an automobilewhich allows the operator to readily view any instruments used inconjunction with the alignment procedure. In addition, the simple designof the tool provides an instrument which is both inexpensive tomanufacture and efficient to use. Also, because of the design of thetool, it is possible to exert a significantly greater amount of torqueon the shaft than could readily be exerted by the prior art devicesthereby reducing the time and effort needed for making alignmentadjustments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects of the invention,together with additional features contributing thereto and advantagesaccruing therefrom, will be apparent fromthe following description of anembodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein: 7

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a camber and caster adjustmenttool of the invention in operative position on a wheel assembly;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side illustration with parts broken away of thecamber and caster adjustment tool of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial end schematic illustration with the tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4'is a top schematic illustration of the adjustment tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 of the sleeveand inner rod of the adjustment tool of FIG. 2; I

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2 showing adifferent angular position between the outer sleeve and inner .rod ofthe adjustment tool;

FIG. 7 is a partial end illustration with parts broken away of anotherembodiment of the adjustment tool of the invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 there isillustrated an embodiment of the caster and camber adjustment tool 1 ofthe invention in operative position on a wheel assembly 2 which isattached to a vehicle chassis 3. The wheel assembly of a vehicle such asa compact Pinto includes an upper inner shaft or arm 4 which isgenerally attached to the vehicle body by means of a pair of bolts (notshown) which affix the shaft and wheel assembly to the vehicle body.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 6, the novel camber and caster adjustmenttool of the invention is best shown. Adjustment tool 1 includes a yokeor saddle member 5 which is adapted to contact and embrace on a curvedinner surface 5' thereof a portion of upper inner shaft front wheels ina manner to be described in detail later. Saddle member 5 is unitarilyaffixed to an end of a rod 6 by any suitable technique. The other end ofrod 6 is provided with an end projection 7 which is utilized to beinserted in a hole 8 generally provided in automobile chassis wherebyinsertion of projection 7 into hole 8 affixes one end of the rod inorder to effect movement of shaft 4. End projection 7 includes an enddisc 9 which is formed by a circumferential groove 10 located near theend of rod 6 wherein disc 9 acts to maintain the projection in hole 8during manipulation of the tool.

The tool is manipulated during adjustment procedures by means of anelongated curved handle member which extends at one end above the uppersaddle 5 adjacent the wheel so that a mechanic or other user can graspthe handle from a position above the wheel assembly adjacent the side ofthe vehicle. Handle 12 is attached to rod 6 by means of a hollow sleeve13 whereby one end 120 of the handle is affixed to the sleeve by asuitable technique such as soldering and the like. The sleeve extendssubstantial the length of rod 6 in a surrounding relationship theretowhereby the sleeve is rotatably movable relative to the rod. A pin 14extends through the sleeve 13 and through a groove 15 formed in a sectorof the rod 6 as best shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. Pin 14 is affixed at itstwo ends to the sleeve whereby the height of the slot 15 is slightlylarger than the other diameter of the pin. The pin and slot arrangementserves not only to lock the sleeve in a longitudinal direction withrespect to rod 6, but also limits the rotational movement of the sleeveand handle relative to rod 6 in a plane normal to the longitudinal axisof the rod. Thus, handle 12 can be swiveled in a certain arc relative toyoke 5 and rod 6 in a manner to permit the handle to be accessible eventhough obstacles such as the wheel and other elements are encountered.

In use of the tool of, the invention, the tool is positioned at one endof the upper arm or shaft 4 as, for example, at the end adjacent thefront of the wheel. The saddle 5 is positioned in embracing relationshipto rod 4 and the projection 7 is placed into the hole 8 of theautomobile chassis. The bolt (not shown) located adjacent the end ofshaft 4 where the tool is located, is loosened an amount to free shaft4. By then releasing the bolt on the other end, the inner shaft 4 isfree and the shaft may be moved for corrective adjustment. Projection 7is affixed to the vehicle body by the retention of disc 9 to the holeand the mechanic or other user has considerable leverage by pulling orotherwise manipulating handle 12 to exert a force on saddle 5 and shaft4 for pivotal motion relative to the hole for alignment movement of theshaft. During adjustment of the wheel, the user is positioned adjacentthe outside of the wheel whereby camber and caster indicating guagesmounted thereon may be easily observed. Upon the desired amount ofalignment being achieved, the bolts may be tightened to secure arm 4 tothe body.

Under certain circumstances in the use of the tool, it may be desirableto either adjust the wheel by putting the tool adjacent the inner shaftat the front of the wheel as outlined above or alternatively, at theback of the wheel to achieve adjustment and follow the same procedure.Under other conditions, it may be advantageous to undertake theprocedure at both ends to insure that the correct alignment hasbeenachieved. It should be apparent that the swiveling ability of handle 12allows the handle to be moved relative to the yoke to avoid theobstruction of the front wheel or elements of the wheel assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of thecamber and caster adjustment tool of the invention. The tool illustratedin FIG. 7 is identical to the tool described with reference to FIGS. 2to 6 except that the mounting of sleeve 13' to rod 6 has been modified.Sleeve 13 of FIG. 7 terminates at its end a predetermined distance fromprojection groove 10 wherein a groove 20 is formed on the exterior ofrod 6' immediately adjacent the bottom edge of the sleeve. The groove 20receives a snap ring 21 having a diameter greater than the depth ofgroove 20 to retain the sleeve against longitudinal movement relative tothe rod but to permit rotational movement in a manner similar to theembodiment previously described.

While the invention is described with reference to preferredembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or materal to the teachings of the inventionwithout departing from its essential teachings.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustment device for adjusting the camber and caster alignment ofa wheel of a vehicle comprising:

a shaft means including a force applying means for applying a desiredforce to the mounting means of the wheel for adjustment thereof,

said shaft means further including retention means positioned in aspaced relationship to the force application to retain an end portion ofthe shaft means to a point on the vehicle body, and

handle means coupled to the shaft means for manually pivoting the forceapplying means relative to the retention means to apply an adjustmentforce to the mounting means of the wheel assembly.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the shaft means includes an elongatedmember.

-3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the force applying means is attached toa first end of the elongated member and the retention means is coupledto the other end of the elongated member.

4. The tool of claim 2 wherein the force applying means is a saddlemember adapted to contact a shaft of the wheel assembly in a surroundingrelationship.

5. The tool of claim 3 wherein the retention means is an elongatedprojection adapted to be inserted into a hole in the vehicle body.

6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the projection includes an enlarged endfor retaining the projection in the hole of the vehicle body.

7. The tool of claim 1 wherein the handle means includes an elongatedhandle to move the force applying means.

8. The tool of claim 7 wherein the handle is swivelly attached to theshaft means.

9. The tool of claim 8 wherein the handle is coupled to a sleevepositioned in surrounding relationship to the shaft means.

10. The tool pf claim 8 wherein the sleeve is coupled to the shaft meansfor limited rotational movement relative thereto.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION MW Patent Nor 3:,760, 628 v Dated September 25 1.973

Inventor(s) JOHN H. CASTOE It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby correctedas shown below:

Column3," lineZl, "substantial" should read subs'tantially Column 4,line 64, "'pf Shouldread Signed and sealed this '22nd day of January1974.

(S Attest; v v EDWARDYM.FL ETCHER,JR." RENE D. TEGTMEYER AttestingOfficer Acting Commissioner of Patents

1. An adjustment device for adjusting the camber and caster alignment ofa wheel of a vehicle comprising: a shaft means including a forceapplying means for applying a desired force to the mounting means of thewheel for adjustment thereof, said shaft means further includingretention means positioned in a spaced relationship to the forceapplication to retain an end portion of the shaft means to a point onthe vehicle body, and handle means coupled to the shaft means formanually pivoting the force applying means relative to the retentionmeans to apply an adjustment force to the mounting means of the wheelassembly.
 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the shaft means includes anelongated member.
 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the force applyingmeans is attached to a first end of the elongated member and theretention means is coupled to the other end of the elongated member. 4.The tool of claim 2 wherein the force applying means is a saddle memberadapted to contact a shaft of the wheel assembly in a surroundingrelationship.
 5. The tool of claim 3 wherein the retention means is anelongated projection adapted to be inserted into a hole in the vehiclebody.
 6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the projection includes an enlargedend for retaining the projection in the hole of the vehicle body.
 7. Thetool of claim 1 wherein the handle means includes an elongated handle tomove the force applying means.
 8. The tool of claim 7 wherein the handleis swivelly attached to the shaft means.
 9. The tool of claim 8 whereinthe handle is coupled to a sleeve positioned in surrounding relationshipto the shaft means.
 10. The tool pf claim 8 wherein the sleeve iscoupled to the shaft means for limited rotational movement relativethereto.